Electrical cutout



June 4, 1946. C. E. MosLEY ELECTRICAL GUT-OUT Filed June 2e, 1944 4 sheets-sheet 1 QW@ ci. A

ML J' Jun e 4, 1946. c. E. MOSLEY 2,401,656

ELECTRICAL CUT-OUT Filed June 26, 1944 4 sheets-sheet 2 2 a 6/ 57 63 59 557 FIGA. FIGS: 9j,

. l 65 55 8 /9 53 5 i/fg 9 Hime 59 E l Y' W31a a? June 4, 1946. C. E. MOSLEY 2,401,656

ELECTRICAL CUT-OUT Filed June 26', 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 HW Chu-QL Patented' June 4, 194s ELECTRICAL CUTOUT Carl E. Mosley, Overland, Matthews Corporation,

ration oi' Missouri -Mo., assignor to W. U. St. Louis, Mo., a corpo- Application J une 26, 1944, Serial No. 542,106

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electrical cutouts, and

` its cie-ionizing characteristic, it also constitutes with regard to certain more specific features, to

fuseless cutouts.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a resettable thermallyoperated cutout employing improved arc-extinguishing features; and the provision of apparatus of this class which is simple', reliable and economical to build. Other objects will be in part 'obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

an insulating lining for the opening side.

Supported on the upper end of the insulator 3 is a conducting clamp portion 9 of a conducting bracket II. The clamp is provided with a suitable wire connector I3 by means of which current n is brought to the apparatus.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exempliied in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated several of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section showing one form of the invention in closed-circuit position;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary' view similar to the upper portion of Fig. 1 but showing an initial releasing and shunting action; v

Fig. 4 'is a view similar to Fig. 1 but on a reduced scale and showing a final arc-extinguishing action;

Fig.v 5 is a right-hand elevation of Fig. 1 on a reduced scale, parts being broken away to show certain features;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a multi-tube form of the invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. '7 is a right-hand elevation of Fig. 6, parts being broken away;

Fig. 8 is'a horizontal section taken on line 8-8 of Fig.- 6;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 7; and,

Fig. l is a vertical section showing the apparatus in switch-open condition.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown at numeral I a bracket which centrally supports a peripherally grooved vertical insulator 3. The insulator has formed through it a hole OI the reception 0f an insulating and also deionizng tube 1. This tube has a tight enough t in the opening sides to support itself therein, or if desired, it may be held in any other suitable manner. It is composed of a suitable de-ionizing material such as horn nbre, or the like. Besides ating plunger rod 21.

'The bracket I I supports an insulating platform I5.A This platform I 5 in turn supports a conducting block I1, screw fasteners IS being used for the purpose. Block I1 includes an opening 2I which is co-axial with the opening through the tube 1. At the lower end of the opening 2| is a circular, conducting beveled seat 23 with which engages the upper beveled rim of a conducting contact cup 25.

'I'he cup 25 is slidably supported upon an oper- At the upper end of stem or'rod 21 is a disc-like head 29 adapted under suitable circumstances to descend through the 4opening 2| and strike within the cup 25. 'I'he plunger 21 extends downward through the tube 1 and through a slide bearing 3| of a lower conducting braclzet 33. This bracket 33 is bridgeshaped, as indicated in means of screws 35 is attached to a conducting clamp 31 fastened around the lower end of the insulator 3. This clamp also carries a line wire connector 39 forming a second connection to the circuit in which the device islocated.

The stem 21 is positively electrically connected with the bracket 33 through a long flexible pigtail wire 39. 'I'he stem is also biased downward by means of a tension coil spring 4 I. at its lower end I3 is fastened to the bracket 33. At its upper end it is fastened to a iixed collar l5 on the stem 21. A compression spring I1 normally biase's'apart the conducting cup 25 and the collar 45. A conducting pigtail wire 49 places the collar A25 and stem21 in positive conductive relationship. At the lower end ofthe stem 21 is aneye 5I by means of which it may be pushed up manually, aswill appear.

-Fastened to the support I1 by means oi screws 53 is a vertical conducting bracket 55 forming an upper clevis 51 for a catch 59. Pivoting of the catch 59 is on a clevis pin 6I. Its counterclockwise motion is limited by a stop 63. A spring biases the catch 59 in a ccunterclockwise direction. A pigtail wire 61. assures good electrical conduction between the catch 59 and the support 55. A second clevis 69 supports a latch 1 I. This is carriedon a pin 13 and is biased counterclockwise by means of a spring '15.l This latch 1I includes a holding finger 11- adapted Figs. 1 and 5, and by This spring,

to swing under the head 29 (compare 1). The upper surface of the nger 11 is fiat so that it may support the head 29 in the position of parts shown in Fig. 1 lltl allows upward passage of the head 29 in the position of parts shown in Fig. 4. A spaced lug 19 is engageable by the head 29 when the latter is raised. This forces the latch 1| clockwise from a position such as shown in Fig. 4 to that shown wise motion of the latch 1| causes a nger 8| thereof to ride under the hook-shaped end 03 of the catch 59, there to be held as indicated in Fig. 1. 1

Thus the hook 83v supports the finger 8| and holds the latch 1| in its clockwise position shown in Fig, l. In this position the finger 11 of latch 1| supports head 29 and holds the entire rod 21 against the pull of the stretched spring 4|. The collar l5 is so positioned that under these conditions the contact cup 25 is pushed into good electrical contact with the beveled edge 23. The spring 41 is at this time under compression,

The latch 1| is also provided blade 95 which, when the latch rotates counterclockwise is engageable with a stationary spring contact I1. This contact, through a conducting bolt 09 is in conductive relation with the bracket and clamp 9.

At numeral 9| is shown a thermostatic element which at one end is connected to a conducting bolt 93, placing it in conductive relation with the bracket Il and clamp 9. The other end of the thermostatic element is attached at 95 to an extending portion of the catch 59. Thermostatic elements of different ratings can be interchanged. The character of the element 9| isA described in Parsons United States Patent 2,121,- 259, dated June 21, 1938. It consists of bimetallic material wound along a minor helix and the resulting minor-wound material is then wound along a major helix. The bimetallic member so made will expand and contract in the direction of the axis of the major helix when the temperature of the structure 9| is changed. By passing current through the helix the temperature may be changed.

The described result in the major helix is due to the fact that the winding of the minor helix is such as to produce a torsional or twisting effect along the axis of the minor helix when the temperature changes. In accordance with one or the other metal of the bimetallic members being positioned outside or inside of the minor helix, the major helix will expand or contract along its axis when heated. The rule is that the device will contract axially along the axis of the major helix inresponse to heating when the metal of, lesser coefficient of frontal expansion is outside, and the present device is so arranged, Thus when current passes through the thermostatic element 9|, the element tends to heat and to contract lengthwise. An advantage of the particular form of the thermostat is that the degree of movement produced in response to current is great while the amount of space occupied by the thermostat is small. It is to be understood that other equivalent thermostatic elements may be used for controlling the catch 59. A cover for all of the latch, catch and associated parts is shown at numeral 2.

Operation of the first form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-5 is as follows, starting with the Fig. 1 position:

Current flows through the line wire connectors I3, clamp 9, bracket bolt 93, thermostatic in Fig, l.' Clockwith a switch Figs 4 and element 9|, catch 59, pigtail wire 51, conducting parts 55, |1, cup 25, plgtail I9, rod 21, pigtail 39. bracket 39, clamp 31 and out to the line via the lower line wire connector I9. Under normal current conditions the heating of the thermostatic element 9| is negligible and it maintains a length such that the catch 59 maintains the latch 1| in the switch-closed position shown in Fig. i.

Upon overload current iiowing through the thermostatic element 9|, it contracts and rotates the catch 59 clockwise. This releases the latch 1| as shown in Fig. 3. Thereupon the switch B5. 81 is closed while the head 29 is released. As soon as the switch 85, 81 closes, the thermostatic element 9| is shunted out of the circuit so that any further current flow under arcing conditions will not damage it. At this time the finger 11 releases head 29. The spring 4| draws down the rod 21. As collar 45 descends the cup 25 for a short interval is maintained in Contact with seat 23. After a short period of time head 29 strikes its seat in cup 25 and thereafter the contact cup 25 is withdrawn from the contact 23 (see Figs. 3 and 4). Any arc that is formed in the de-ionizing tube 1 is from part i1 to cup 25 and not to head 29. This prevents damage to the head 29 by the arc while the arc is being snuffed out.

To reclose the circuit an operator pushes up the eye 5|, whereupon the contacts 25 and 23 are first closed. Then, the additional lost motion available between the stem 21 and the cup 25 raises the head 29 into engagement with the lug 19, thus forcing the latch 1| clockwise into position to be caught by the catch 59. As a prelimiis very compact, the substantially cylindric vertical and hollow insulator 3 forming the sole mount therefor. It will also be noted that the lost motion between the contact cup 25 and the rod 21 permits the rod to get into motion before the contacts 25 and 23 separate. Before separation the spring 41 maintains the Contact. Then when the cap 29 strikes the interior of the cup 25, thc contact is suddenly broken which is a desired optimum condition.

In Figs. 6-10 is shown another form of the invention in which multiple breaks are made in multiple tubes. In this form of the invention numeral |0| indicates the supporting bracket with which the fuseless cutout can be mounted on an insulator (insulator not shown). Bracket |0| also supports an extension |03. On the extension |03 is fastened an insulating crossbar |05 having suitable openings into which are threaded deionizing, insulating tubes |01. These are open at their lower ends. On these tubes are enclosing conducting caps |09, one of which is shown in detail section in Fig. 9. A description of.one will describe both.

Each cap carries a wire connector forone lead ||3 of the circuit. Threaded into each cap |09 is a bushing ||5 which forms a bearing for a sliding pin ||1. The lower end ||9 of pin ||1 is cup-shaped and forms a contact. A compression spring |2| reacts from the upper end of the bushing I5 to the top of the contact ||9, thus biasing the contact downward. A pigtail |23 assures good electrical connections between 'the member ||5 and the parts connected with the contact H9. A

' tension |15 is carried on the part |03.

ly from the lower open ends of the tubes |01 and' are connected to an insulating crosshead |29. This crosshead has an opening |3| by means of which it slides upon a central guide bar |33, the latter extending downward from the extension |03. Rotation of the crosshead |29 on the guide |33 is prevented by the guiding action of the rods |21 operating in the tubes |01.

A bracket |35 supports an insulating extension |31 which in turn supports an insulating disc |39. The last-mentioned parts |35, |31 and H39 are held together' by means or screws |4| and lila.

On the disc |39 is supported a conducting clevis |45 for a catch i111 pivoted at H59 and normally biased clockwise by means of a spring ISI. Also pivoted to the clevis H55 at |53 is a latch |55 carrying a holding finger |51 and a lug |59. The latch is biased clockwise by a spring |00. A thermostatic element corresponding to the element of the first form of the invention, is attached to the end of the catch |41, as indicated at |63. The other end of the thermostatic element IGI is attached to the screw |4| which passes through the members |31 and |39 and into conductive threading relations to the conductor |35. The conducting part |35 is connected to one of the rods |21 by a bug bar |61 (see Figs. 6 and 8 particularly). One of the screws |69 which holds the clevis |45 is placed in conducting relation to the other rod |21 by means of a second bus bar |1| (see said Figs. 6 and 8). A pigtail rwire |13 assures proper electrical conduction between the clevis |45 and the catch |41. A cover |02 is attached to the disc |39 forming a protection over the described thermostatic and latch parts.

The entire assembly of parts on the crcssbar |29 may be moved up from the Fig. 10 position to the Fig. 7 position. In the Fig.'1position stop nuts 8 on guide |33 limit downward motion of crosshead |29. In order that the said assembly may be latched'up in the Fig, '7 position, an insulating ex- To this extension |15 is attached a .downwardly directed hook |11 engageable with the lug |59 when the.

latter rises with its assembly. y This engagement bus bar |61 (Fig. 8) thence through the conductor |35, screw |4I, thermostatic element IBI, catch |41, pigtail |13, clevis |45, one of the screws |69. bus bar 1|, through the other rod |21 and back to the line. These conditions prevail as long as not enough current is passing through the thermostatic element |6| substantially to contract it. Upon overload current, heating of the element ISI contracts it, thus rotating the catch |41 counterclockwise and releasing the latch |55. This permits the assembly of the crossbar |29 and parts thereon to descend from the position shown in Fig. '7 to that shown in Fig. 10, stops 8 limiting the downward motion. This breaks the circuit practically simultaneously in two places, namely, at the pairs of contact H9, |29 in the tubes |01. To reclose the circuit, the said assembly is again raised from the position shown in Fig. l0 to that shown in Fig. '7.

The arc-extinguishing de-ionizing effect of each tube |01 is similar to that of tube 1 of the first form of the invention.

Although only two tubes |01 and two sets of associated parts are shown in Figs. 6-10. a greater plurality may be used without departing from the principles of the invention.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. In an electrical cutout, a substantially hollow Cylindric insulator, a coaxial de-ionizing tube passing through said insulator, a fixed Contact supported at the upper end of the insulator, a conducting rod passing through said tube, a movable contact having a 10st-motion support on said rod, a compression spring reacting from a point on the rod against said movable contact normally to bias Vit against the fixed contact, a tension spring normally biasing said rod out of said tube, said rod extending upward past the fixed Contact and being provided with means for holding it, a latch mechanism carried at the adjacent end of the insulator and engageable with said rod-holding means, and means for holding said latch mechanism in a holding position under normal circuit condition and for releasing it under overload conditions, said holding means on the rod being engageable with the latch means to set the latter into holding position and to be released thereby to permit bias of said tension spring to open the contacts.

2. In an electrical cutout, a de-ionizing tube, a xed Contact supported at the one end of the tube, a conducting rod passing through said tube, a movable contact having a lost-motion support on said rod. a compression spring reacting from a point on the rod against said movable contact and biasing it toward the iixed contact, a tension spring normally biasing said rod in a direction out of the other end of said tube. said rod extending past the fixed contact and being provided with means for holding it, a latch mechanism carried at the adjacent end of the insulator and engageable with said rod-holding means, means for holding said latch mechanism in a holding position under normal circuit condition and for releasing it under overload circuit condition.

3. In an electric cutout, a vertical substantially hollow cylindric insulator, a coaxial de-ionizing tube passing through said insulator, a fixed con- I tact supported at the upper end of the insulator, a conducting rod passing through said tube, a movable contact having a lost-motion support on said rod, a compression spring reacting from a vpoint on the rod against said movable contact and biasing it toward the fixed contact, a tension spring normally biasing said rod downwardly and out of said tube, said rod extending upward past the fixed contact and being provided with means for holding it, a latch mechanism carried at the upper end of the insulator and engageable with said rod-holding means, thermostatic means for holding said latch mechanism in a holding position under normal circuit ,condition and for releasing it under overload circuit condition, said holding means on the rod being engageable with the latch means to set the latter into holding position and to be released thereby to admit bias of` said tension spring to open the contacts, and spacing means between saidr holding means on the rod and said movable contact allowing movement toward the movable contact upon release thereby suddenly to open said contact.

4. ln an electrical cutout, a vertical substan-l tially hollow cylindric insulator, a coaxial deionizing tube passing through said insulator, a fixed contact supported at the upper end of the insulator, a conducting rod passing through said tube, a movable contact having a lost-motion support on said rod, a compression spring reactlng from a point on the rod against said movable contact normally to bias it toward the xed con tact, a tension spring normally biasing said rod downwardly and out of said tube, said rod extend-n ing upward past the fixed contact and being provided with holding means, a latch mechanism carried at the upper end of the insulator and engageable with said holding means, thermostatic means for holding said latch mechanism in a holding position under normal circuit'condition and for releasing it under overload circuit condition, said holding means on the rod being engageable with the latch means to set the latter into holding position and to be released thereby to admit bias of said tension spring toopen the contacts, spacing means between said holding means on the rod and said movable contact allow.- ing movement upon release by the holding means before the movable contact opens and thereafter suddenly to open said contact, and switch means associated with said latch adapted to close when the latch releases and to shunt the thermostatic element.

5. An electrical cutout comprising a plurality of dez-ionizing tubes, resilient switch contacts asm sociated with said tubes, contact rods extending through said tubes and adapted to make and break engagement at said resilient switch contacts, a guide, a crosshead sliding on said guide and supporting said rods, a latch mechanism supported upon said crosshead, a thermostatic member controlling the latch mechanism and being in series circuit relation with said switch contacts and rods, and stationary holding means adapted to be engaged by the latch mechanism in a position of the crosshead wherein said switch contacts are closed, said thermostatic element under overload circuit conditions releasing the latch mechanism to allow the crosshead to move said rods into positions wherein said switch contacts are opened,

6. An electrical cutout comprising a plurality of ie-ionizing tubes, resilient switch contacts associated with said tubes, contact rods extending through said tubes and adapted to make and break engagement at said resilient switch contacts, a guide, a crosshead sliding on said guide and supporting said rods, a latch mechanism sup-l ported upon said crosshead, a thermostatic member controlling the latch mechanism and being in series circuit relation with said switch contacts and rods, and stationary holding means adapted to be engaged by the latch mechanism in a position of the crosshead wherein said switch contacts are closed, said thermostatic element under overload circuit conditions releasing the latch mechanism to allow the crosshead to move said rods into positions wherein said switch contacts are opened, said tubes and guides being mounted in an upright position, whereby gravity biases said crosshead and the parts mounted thereon toward open circuit-positions.

'7. An electrical cutout comprising a support, substantially vertical insulating cle-ionizing tubes mounted upon said support, contacts at the upper ends of said tubes, conducting rods vertically movable in said tubes and extending from their lower ends, a substantially vertical guide, a crosshead movable under gravity down said guide and carrying said rods, a latch mechanism supported upon said crosshead and movable to a release position under normal circuit conditions and sponsive to abnormal circuit conditions to a holding position, and means engageable by said latch mechanism for supporting it under said normal circuit conditions 8. In an electrical cutout, an upriglfitly disposed rie-ionizing tube, a contact supported at the upper end oi the tube, a conducti'n-cT ad extending through the tube and out of lower end, a contact at the upper end or" said ed en gageable with the first-named contact and movable with the rod to and away from said iirst contact, means tending to move the rod out ci its tube to separate the contacts, latch means adapted to hold the rod in the tube and close said contacts and when released allowing said rod to Withdraw from the tube and cause opening of the contacts, and means responsive `to normal load conditions in the circuit containing said contact adapted to maintain the latch closed and adapted in response to overload current `in said circuit to open said latch.

9. l'n an electrical cutout, a fined contact, a rie-ionizing tube extending from said contact, a movable contact cooperating with said tilted con- -tact, a control stern passing through said tube with respect to which said movable contact moves, a latch mechanism adjacent said opening, said control stem having a head cooperative with the latch mechanism and adapted to be held and released thereby, means biasing the stem from the tube to move said head from the latch toward said movable contact and then into the tube,

resilient means reacting from a point on the stem to said'movable contact normally to bias the same against the fixed contact until engaged by said head upon release of the latterirom the latch mechanism, whereupon the head carries the movable contact away from the iixed contact and into said tube.

10. In an electrical cutout, a iixed contact having an opening therethrough providing a circular contact seat, a de-ionizing tube extending from said opening, a movable cup-shaped contact cooperating with said circular seat of the iixed contact, a control stem passing through said tube and contact and on which said movable contact moves, a latch mechanism adjacent said opening, said control stem having a head cooperative With the latch mechanism and adapted to be held and released thereby, means biasing the stern from the tube to move said head from the latch through said opening and toward said movable contact, and resilient means reacting from a point on the stem to said movable contact normally to bias the movable contact against the fixed contact until engaged by said head upon release of the latter from the latch mechanism, said head seating in said cup shape of the movable contact upon withdrawing the latter from the fixed contact and into the tube.

11. In an electrical cutout, a fixed contact having an opening therethrough providing a cirthereby, spring 'means biasing the stem from the 1 atomes a tubs to move said head mun me latch zcward said movable contact.- spring means reacting from 'a point on the stem to said movable contact normally biasing the same against the xed contact until engaged by saidhead upon release of 'the latter from the latch mechanism, said head seating in said cup shape of the movable contact to withdraw the latter from theV ixed contactA and into the tube. CARL E. Mosmzsr.Y

Certiilcate voi." Correction Patent No. 2,401,656.

CARL E. MosLEY June 4, i946.

It is hereby certified that .the -nane-of the assignee of the above numbered patent was Verroneously described' and speoiiied as W. U. Matthews Corporation, Whereas said name should have been described and specified as W. N. Matthews Corporation, as vshowlrby the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein'that the same may conform to the record of the ease inthe Patent Oicel lSigned .and sealed this 6th dpy of Augjust, D. 194,6.`

LESLIE FRAZER,

Ftrst Assistant ommz'ssoner of Patents. 

